Robot Optics Intern

Team Description:

The Robot Optics Team is passionate about shaping the future of operating rooms. We are responsible for all optical engineering aspects of Neuralink surgeries, including working on our surgical robotics, supporting operating room equipment, and manufacturing custom consumables. The core device we work on is the robotic system that performs implant insertions. Key subsystems include 2D and 3D machine vision cameras, optical coherence tomography, and surgical site illuminators.

Our team oversees the entire product lifecycle of all optical subsystems across multiple robot versions, from ideation and design through production, testing, and maintenance. We also design hardware for producing and inspecting consumables, such as laser-machined needle cartridges. As we manufacture a significant portion of our hardware in-house, our core activities include bring-up testing, designing hardware acceptance testers, and overseeing manufacturing processes. 

Job Description and Responsibilities:

As a Robot Optics Intern at Neuralink, you will build, characterize, and calibrate optical and optomechanical systems used directly in our surgical robots and associated consumables manufacturing systems. These systems are responsible for everything from sub-micron conventional imaging to laser scanning imaging to non-imaging optical power delivery. In this role, you will be expected to:

• Design and simulate optical imaging systems
• Test, verify, and maintain vision systems in robots
• Repair and troubleshoot existing optical subassemblies
• Test and verify optics consumables
• Develop image acquisition and processing software
• Conduct preliminary tests of new imaging technologies for robotic surgeries
• Collaborate with engineering teams to evaluate and implement process improvements
• Prepare relevant documentation and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for robot optics

Required Qualifications:

• Familiarity with basic optics fundamentals such as aberrations, transmission/reflection, light polarization, Gaussian beams, etc.
• Experience with visible and IR optical equipment (e.g., fiber splicers, light sources, beam profilers, power meters, resolution targets)
• 1+ years of optical engineering experience, including simulation and design of optics in Zemax or equivalent software
• 1+ years of relevant industrial experience with assembly, precision alignment, and integration of complex optomechanical systems
• 1+ years of experience with benchtop testing, performance characterization, and metrology benchmarking of optical systems
• Experience documenting and following procedures in the optical design pipeline (e.g., assembly, characterization, verification) with a high level of detail

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong understanding of engineering first principles
• Education in an engineering-related field
• Experience with data analysis and image processing
• Experience with optics alignment and optics bench testing
• Experience with fiber optics fabrication
• Mechanical engineering and CAD skills
• Experience with optical simulation and design software (e.g., Zemax, CodeV, OSLO, LightTools)

Additional Requirements and Competencies:

• Ability to travel to and work in Fremont, CA
• Basic computer skills and proficiency in Google Docs, Google Drive, and Gmail
• Software engineering experience in developing scripts for instrument testing
• Comfortable working in laboratory and vivarium environments as needed